New Frontiers in Quantum Foundations, CUPI 2011

The international conference "New Frontiers in Quantum Foundations, CUPI 2011" will be held at the Clyde V. Madren Center at Clemson University, March 9-11, 2011. The conference is part of the new Clemson University-Perimeter Institute (CUPI) partnership. The organizer is Antony Valentini (Clemson). The co-organizers are Murray Daw (Clemson) and Lucien Hardy (Perimeter). The conference facilitator is Amanda E. Crumpton (aellenb@clemson.edu).

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

After more than 80 years, the mystery surrounding quantum mechanics continues to increase. At stake is our understanding of the whole of fundamental physics, from elementary quantum phenomena such as nonlocality and contextuality, to the creation of primordial fluctuations in the early universe, as well as information loss in evaporating black holes and the problem of time in quantum gravity. The subject is being attacked from a variety of perspectives. The many recent theoretical developments include: physical axioms for quantum theory, the application of collapse theories and of de Broglie-Bohm theory to cosmology, understanding probability and classicality in the many-worlds interpretation, understanding the structure of possible hidden-variables theories, making collapse theories Lorentz invariant, reconstructing quantum theory from general probabilistic and operational frameworks, new perspectives on black-hole information loss, and progress in solving the problem of time. On the experimental side, among many we have: new fundamental tests such as the three-slit experiment, tests of contextuality, and remarkable fluid-mechanical analogues of elementary quantum phenomena. Some workers in these sub-categories are not fully aware of the work being done elsewhere. The aim of the conference is to bring together representatives from this wide spectrum.

LOCATION:

The meeting will be held at Clemson's Madren Conference Center, on the shores of Lake Hartwell. Accomodation is on site at the James F. Martin Inn. For details and photos, see www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/madren.

PARTICIPANTS:

Herman Batelaan, Caslav Brukner, Samuel Colin, Emmanuel Fort, Adolfo De Unanue, Michael Dickson, Christos Efthymiopoulos, Phillip Goyal, Lucien Hardy, Jim Hartle (tbc), Adrian Kent (*), Jerome Martin, Alberto Montina (tbc), Wayne Myrvold, Jonathan Oppenheim (*), Philip Pearle, Roger Penrose (tbc), Patrick Peter, Nelson Pinto-Neto, Anthony Rizzi, Rudolf Roemer (tbc), Carlo Rovelli (tbc), Simon Saunders, Lee Smolin, Rafael Sorkin, Rob Spekkens, Daniel Sudarsky, Mike Towler

(tbc) = (to be confirmed)

(*) = (by video link from Cambridge)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

For all practical queries concerning travel and accomodations, please contact our conference facilitator: Amanda E. Crumpton (aellenb@clemson.edu).

• The meeting will begin the morning of Wednesday March 9th and end the afternoon of Friday March 11th.
• Clemson is within easy reach of Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (40 mins by car); otherwise, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) are each about 2 hrs away by car.
• The Department of Physics and Astronomy will provide transport from Greenville-Spartanburg airport to the conference center. A van will be sent twice on the day of arrival (Tuesday March 8th). Participants can also arrange their own ground transportation.
• Participants will cover their own accomodation ($90 per night for an executive room) and travel. There will be a small conference fee to cover basic costs.
• The conference center has over 17,000 square feet of meeting space, a grand ballroom, executive boardroom, meeting rooms, tiered auditorium, teleconference room, training rooms, seminar rooms, and excellent pre-function and registration space. It also has extensive open-air facilities, with large lawns, a covered pavilion, and a lakeside golf course, all with panoramic views of Lake Hartwell. See www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/madren.